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Americans of 1840s

Pre-Civil War Mathew Brady New York and Washington DC Studio PortraitsCreated by: LOC's Public Domain ArchiveDated: 1844
[Henry Peters Gray, half-length portrait, head three-quarters to left]
In 1844, Mathew Brady opened a photography studio at the corner of Broadway and Fulton Street in New York. By 1845, he began to exhibit his portraits of famous Americans, including the likes of Senator Daniel Webster and poet Edgar Allan Poe. In 1849, he opened a studio at 625 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Brady's early images were daguerreotypes, and he won many awards for his work.

In 1850, Brady produced The Gallery of Illustrious Americans, a portrait collection of prominent contemporary figures. The album, which featured noteworthy images including the elderly Andrew Jackson at the Hermitage, was not financially rewarding but invited increased attention to Brady's work.

When the Civil War started, he used a mobile studio and darkroom enabled vivid battlefield photographs. Thousands of war scenes were captured, as well as portraits of generals and politicians on both sides of the conflict, though most of these were taken by his assistants, rather than by Brady himself. After the war, these pictures went out of fashion, and the government did not purchase the master-copies as he had anticipated. Brady's fortunes declined sharply, and he died in debt.
443 Media in collection ∙ page 5 of 5
[Gerard Hallock, half-length portrait, facing front, with chin whiskers]

[Gerard Hallock, half-length portrait, facing front, with chin whisker...

Journalist. Alternative identifications: Halleck; Haloc. Scratched on back of plate: Halock from NY. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Co... More

[Unidentified man, half-length portrait, facing slightly left]

[Unidentified man, half-length portrait, facing slightly left]

Whig Congressman from Ohio, 1831-1840; Governor of Ohio, 1840-1842; Senator, 1845-1850; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, 1850-1853; Republican Congressman, 1858-1861. Identified by Owen Blevins 4/2017 based on s... More

[Michael Faraday, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the right, seated in chair, hand resting on table]

[Michael Faraday, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the right, s...

British physicist and chemist, inventor of the electric generator. Scratched on back of plate: 454; Faraday. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Libra... More

[Jacob Collamer, half-length portrait, three-quarters to left]

[Jacob Collamer, half-length portrait, three-quarters to left]

Whig Congressman from Vermont, 1843-1849; U.S. Postmaster General, 1849-1850; Republican Senator, 1855-1865. Identification from engraving by A.H. Ritchie, Daguerd. by Brady, N.Y., engraved for the American Rev... More

[Unidentified man, about 25 years of age, three-quarter length portrait, three-quarters to the right, seated in chair, with arms folded]

[Unidentified man, about 25 years of age, three-quarter length portrai...

Alternative identification: Hon. William Mitchell (cat. 5). Scratched on face of plate: 245; Wm. Mitchell. Scratched on back of plate: 261. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of:... More

[James Brown, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the right, eyes front, one hand on hip, wearing plaid waistcoat]

[James Brown, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the right, eyes ...

Publisher of Little, Brown & Co. Identification from portrait in G.S. Hilliard, Memoir of James Brown, 1856. Scratched on back of plate: 78 [cancelled]; 237; Life[?] Brown. Hallmark: 40. Transfer; U.S. War Coll... More

[Robert Charles Winthrop, head-and-shoulders portrait, slightly to left, eyes front]

[Robert Charles Winthrop, head-and-shoulders portrait, slightly to lef...

Whig Congressman from Massachusetts, 1840-1850; Senator, 1850-1851. Scratched on face of plate: 158. Scratched on back of plate: 143; 195 [canceled] Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920. (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms ... More

[William Frederick Havemeyer, half-length portrait, three-quarters to right, arms crossed, with side whiskers, wearing spectacles]

[William Frederick Havemeyer, half-length portrait, three-quarters to ...

Mayor of New York City. Scratched on back of plate: 45 [canceled]; 49. Corners rounded. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congress). Prod... More

[Giuseppe Garibaldi, head-and-shoulders portrait, slightly to the left, with full beard]

[Giuseppe Garibaldi, head-and-shoulders portrait, slightly to the left...

Military general. Scratched on face of plate: 11; Garrabaldi. Scratched on back of plate: 450. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congres... More

[Benjamin Fitzpatrick, half-length portrait, slightly to left]

[Benjamin Fitzpatrick, half-length portrait, slightly to left]

Democratic Senator from Alabama, 1848-1861; Governor, 1842-1846; Vice-Presidential nominee, 1860. Scratched on face of plate: 208; Sen. Fitzpatrick. Scratched on back of plate: 243. Transfer; U.S. War College; ... More

[Thomas Cole, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left]

[Thomas Cole, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left]

Artist. Public domain photograph of 19th-century daguerreotype portrait, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[John M. Washington, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the left, in military uniform]

[John M. Washington, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to th...

U.S. Army Bvt. Colonel. Scratched on back of plate: 329; Bvt. Col. Jno. M. Washington. 4th arty. lost on Steamer San Francisco. Corners trimmed. Hallmark: Rinhart 9. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920. (DLC/PP-19... More

[Ezra Bartlett French, half-length portrait, facing front]

[Ezra Bartlett French, half-length portrait, facing front]

Democratic congressman from Ohio, 1813-1816; U.S. Postmaster General, 1823-1829; Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, 1829-1861. Scratched on back of plate: 119. Hallmark: 40M. Formerly identified as Ez... More

[William Murray, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the left]

[William Murray, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the le...

Scratched on back of plate: 36; Murry. Alternative identification: William M. Murray (cat. 5). Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920. (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congress... More

[Howell Cobb, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the right]

[Howell Cobb, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the right]

Democratic Congressman from Georgia, 1843-1851, 1855-1857; Governor of Georgia, 1851-1853; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, 1857-1860. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Dague... More

[Thomas Butler King, half-length portrait, nearly facing front]

[Thomas Butler King, half-length portrait, nearly facing front]

Whig Congressman from Georgia, 1839-1843, 1845-1850. Public domain photograph of 19th-century daguerreotype portrait, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[Unidentified man, about 70 years of age, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the right, wearing spectacles]

[Unidentified man, about 70 years of age, half-length portrait, three-...

Identification of Simson based on similar photograph in Baynard, Samuel Harrison. History of the Supreme council, 330, Ancient accepted Scottish rite of freemasonry, Northern masonic jurisdiction of the United ... More

[Thomas Hart Benton, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

[Thomas Hart Benton, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

Democratic Senator from Missouri, 1821-1851. Scratched on face of plate: 85. Scratched on back of plate: 228; Thos. H. Benton. Facing the light / H. Pfister. Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press, 1978, p.... More

[Roger S. Baldwin, three-quarter length portrait, facing slightly left]

[Roger S. Baldwin, three-quarter length portrait, facing slightly left...

Whig Senator from Connecticut, 1847-1851; Governor of Connecticut, 1844-1846. Scratched on back of plate: 5; Sen. Baldwin, Con. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotyp... More

[Hopkins Lacey Turney, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the left]

[Hopkins Lacey Turney, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the lef...

Democratic Congressman from Tennessee, 1837-1843; Senator, 1845-1851. Scratched on face of plate: 161. Scratched on back of plate: Sen. Turney, Tenn. Hallmark: 40M. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920. (DLC/PP-192... More

[G.P.A. Healy, half-length portrait, facing front]

[G.P.A. Healy, half-length portrait, facing front]

Artist (portrait painter). Likeness resembles that of an original photograph labeled Healy, Wm., in the Hoxie collection, Library of Congress, and the engraving in National Encycl. of Amer. Biography. Manuscrip... More

[Mary Woodburn Greeley, half-length portrait of a woman, slightly to the right, facing front, wearing spectacles]

[Mary Woodburn Greeley, half-length portrait of a woman, slightly to t...

Wife of Zaccheus Greeley, mother of Horace Greeley. Public domain photograph of 19th-century daguerreotype portrait, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[Albert Gallatin, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, with walking stick]

[Albert Gallatin, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, with walk...

Senator from Pennsylvania, 1793; Congressman, 1795-1801; Secretary of the Treasury, 1801-1813; U.S. Minister to France, 1816-1823; President of the National Bank of New York, 1831-1839; First President of the A... More

[Cassius Marcellus Clay, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the right]

[Cassius Marcellus Clay, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the r...

U.S. Minister to Russia. Scratched on back of plate: Cassius M. Clay. Column in background indicates could possibly be by Southworth and Hawes. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part ... More

[Unidentified man, about 50 years of age, half-length portrait, nearly facing front, slightly to the right, seated]

[Unidentified man, about 50 years of age, half-length portrait, nearly...

Scratched on back of plate: #25?; 39 [cancelled] Alternative identification: Hon. Joseph Lane, 1801-1881. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library ... More

[Robert John Walker, half-length portrait, three-quarters to right]

[Robert John Walker, half-length portrait, three-quarters to right]

Democratic Senator from Mississippi, 1835-1845; Secretary of the Treasury, 1845-1849. Scratched on back of plate: 56. Identification from mezzotint by T. Doney. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920. (DLC/PP-1920:46... More

[James Buchanan, three-quarter length portrait, three-quarters to the right]

[James Buchanan, three-quarter length portrait, three-quarters to the ...

U.S. President. Probably a copy of DAG no. 428. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congress). Produced by Mathew Brady's studio.

[Unidentified man, about 30 years of age, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the left, with chin whiskers]

[Unidentified man, about 30 years of age, head-and-shoulders portrait,...

Scratched on back of plate: 189; 295. Corners rounded. Possibly a portrait of John Bigelow based on similarity to image LC-BH82- 4625 in Brady-Handy Photograph Collection (Source: Owen Blevins 4/2017). Transfer... More

[Henry Grinnell, head-and-shoulders portrait, profile to the left]

[Henry Grinnell, head-and-shoulders portrait, profile to the left]

Merchant; backer of polar expeditions; first President of the American Geographical Society.

[Unidentified man, about 50 years of age, head-and-shoulders portrait, nearly facing front, slightly to the right]

[Unidentified man, about 50 years of age, head-and-shoulders portrait,...

Scratched on back of plate: 259. Corners trimmed. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congress). Produced by Mathew Brady's studio.

[Unidentified man, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

[Unidentified man, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[Pierre Soulé, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the left]

[Pierre Soulé, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the left]

Democratic Senator from Louisiana, 1847-1853; French liberal exile; political adventurer; U.S. Minister to Spain, 1853-1855. Scratched on face of plate: 43. Scratched on back of plate: 203. Transfer; U.S. War C... More

[Samuel G. Goodrich, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the left, wearing spectacles]

[Samuel G. Goodrich, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to th...

Author, editor, publisher, known as Peter Parley. Identification from engraving by Bannister in Memorial History of Hartford County, Conn., 1866, 1:162. Scratched on back of plate: 166. Hallmark: Rinhart 9. DAG... More

[John A. Dix, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the left, in civilian dress, with long hair]

[John A. Dix, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the left, in civ...

Democratic Senator from New York, 1845-1849; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, 1861; Governor of New York, 1873-1875. Scratched on back of plate: 102; John A. Dix. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:4... More

[Howell Cobb, half-length portrait, facing front]

[Howell Cobb, half-length portrait, facing front]

Democratic Congressman from Georgia, 1843-1851, 1855-1857; Governor of Georgia, 1851-1853; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, 1857-1860.

[Thomas Sowerby Hamblin, head-and shoulders portrait, slightly to the left]

[Thomas Sowerby Hamblin, head-and shoulders portrait, slightly to the ...

Shakespearean actor; manager of the Bowery theater, and of other New York theaters. Identification from an identified engraving published in Odell's Annals of the New York Stage, v. 6, p. 222. Scratched on face... More

[Henry Grinnell, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the left]

[Henry Grinnell, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the le...

Merchant; backer of polar expeditions; first President of the American Geographical Society.

[Cornelius Vanderbilt, head-and-shoulders portrait, slightly to left, with side whiskers]

[Cornelius Vanderbilt, head-and-shoulders portrait, slightly to left, ...

Financier. Scratched on face of plate: 159. Scratched on back of plate: 58; Cornelius Vanderbilt. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920. (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congr... More

[Zachary Taylor, half-length portrait, head in profile to the right]

[Zachary Taylor, half-length portrait, head in profile to the right]

Twelfth President of the United States; Commander in Mexican War, 1845-1846. Scratched on face of plate: 87 [superscribed over] Sil[as?]; Silas [illegible] Scratched on back of plate: 277. Hallmark: [4]OM? Faci... More

[Henry Peters Gray, half-length portrait, head three-quarters to left]

[Henry Peters Gray, half-length portrait, head three-quarters to left]

Artist. Alternative identifications: Washington Irving; Henry Peter Grey. Scratched on back of plate: 41; H.P. Gray. Hallmark: AB. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreo... More

[Andrew Jackson, head-and-shoulders portrait, nearly in profile to left, leaning against pillow of which ticking appears in lower left corner]

[Andrew Jackson, head-and-shoulders portrait, nearly in profile to lef...

President of the United States. Public domain photograph of 19th-century daguerreotype portrait, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[Thomas Cole, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left]

[Thomas Cole, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left]

Artist. Public domain photograph of 19th-century daguerreotype portrait, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[Balie Peyton, half-length portrait, face nearly in profile to the left]

[Balie Peyton, half-length portrait, face nearly in profile to the lef...

Jacksonian Congressman from Tennessee, 1833-1837; U.S. Minister to Chile, 1849-1853. Scratched on face of plate: 250; Bailie Peyton. Hallmark: 40. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920. (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms pa... More

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